How to Play Major Chords on a Keyboard

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Chords are what make music interesting and give it character. They are some of the most basic and important things for every pianist to know, and they're really easy to learn! We'll show you the rules, and then let you go practice!

Find the major third. The second note in a major chord is the major third, which gives the chord its character. It will be four semitones, or half-steps, above the root. It is called a third because when you play a scale in that key, it will be the third note that you hit.

For a C major chord, E is the third. It is four half steps above C. You can count them on your piano (C#, D, D#, E).

You will play the third with your middle finger, regardless of which hand you’re using.

Try playing the root and the third together, to get a sense of how that interval is supposed to sound.

Find the fifth. The top note in a major chord is called the fifth because if you play a scale it will be the fifth note that you hit. It anchors the chord and makes it complete. It is seven semi-tones above the root.[3]

For a C major chord, G is the fifth. You can count the seven semi-tones up from the root on your piano. (C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G.)

You play the fifth with your pinkie in your right hand, or your thumb in your left.

Understand that there are at least two ways to spell a chord. All notes can be written at least two different ways, for example Eb and D# are the same note. Therefore, an Eb major chord would sound the same as D# major chord.

Review proper hand position. In order to play a piece of piano music well, you need to consistently use the correct hand position, even when you’re just practicing chords.

Keep your fingers tall and curved, as if they are diving into the keys. Use the natural curve of your fingers.

Use the weight of your arms rather than the strength of your fingers to push on the keys.[5]

Play on the tips of your fingers, including if possible the pinkie and thumb which tend to lie flat if you’re not paying attention.

Keep your fingernails trimmed close so that you can play using the tips of your fingers.

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Part 1 Quiz

How should you play a tonic note?

With your middle finger.

Not quite! You want to be able to reach the keys you need easily, and the tonic note isn't going to be found near your middle finger. Choose another answer!

With both hands.

Not necessarily! While there are options for both hands to reach the tonic note, you might not need to play it with both hands at the same time, and will usually play with just one. Pick another answer!

With your fingers flat.

Nope! You want to play piano on the tips of your fingers as best you can. Try to do this even with the tricky fingers, like the thumb and pinky fingers, which tend to lay flat. Try another answer...

With the thumb on your right hand.

That's right! You'll play the tonic note, or the root of the chord, with either the thumb on your right hand or the pinky on your left, because it is the lowest note in the chord! Read on for another quiz question.

Play Db Major. The three notes will be Db, F, Ab. Remember, Db = tonic (0), F = major third (4 semi-tones), Ab = fifth (7 semi-tones). The enharmonic equivalent of this chord is C# Major. Notice that Db could also be noted as C#. F can also be written in music as E#. Ab can also be written as G#. The notes you play will be the same whether it is written as Db Major or C# Major.[6]

Right hand fingering will place your thumb on Db, your middle finger on F and your pinkie on Ab.

Play F# Major. The three notes will be F#, A#, C#. Remember, F# = tonic (0), A# = major third (4 semi-tones), C# = fifth (7 semi-tones). The enharmonic equivalent of this chord is Gb Major which will be written as Gb, Bb, Db. Note that F# can also be written as Gb. A# can also be written as Bb. C# can also be written as Db. So the notes you play to make a major chord will be the same in F# Major and Gb Major.

Right hand fingering will place the thumb on F#, the middle finger on A# and the pinkie on C#.

Play Ab Major. The three notes will be Ab, C, Eb. Remember, Ab = tonic (0), C = major third (4 semi-tones), Eb = fifth (7 semi-tones). The enharmonic equivalent of this chord is G# Major which will be written as G#, B#, D#. Note that Ab can also be written as G#. C can also be written as B#. Eb can also be written as D#. The notes you play to make a major chord will be the same for Ab Major and G# major, although they will be noted differently.

Right hand fingering will place your thumb on Ab, your middle finger on C and your pinkie on Eb.

Nope! You only use three fingers to play chords, and so you may rest your index and ring fingers, but if you press down on the keys you will interupt your own chords. Click on another answer to find the right one...

To stay in one place.

Not exactly! When you change chords, you actually advance a half-step (one key) up the keyboard. It would definitely sound odd if you didn't! Choose another answer!

The same chord can be written in several ways.

That's right! It might be a little confusing at first, but notes and chords can be written in a variety of ways. It's a good idea to brush up, so you're always prepared to play! Read on for another quiz question.

Practice playing all three notes at once. When you feel comfortable playing each chord individually, try skipping up the scale with each major chord. Start with a C major chord, then play a Db major, then D major and so on.

Begin by doing this exercise with only one hand. When you feel confident, play both hands at once.

Listen for false notes. The ratio between the notes should always remain the same, so if one chord suddenly sounds different, review whether you are hitting the correct notes.

Try arpeggios. An arpeggio is when each note is struck in sequence from lowest to highest. To play a C Major arpeggio with your right hand, strike the C with your thumb and release. Strike E with your middle finger and release. Strike G with your pinkie and release.[7]

When you have mastered this motion, try to make it fluid rather than choppy. Strike and release each note quickly, so there is scarcely any time between notes.

Practice playing the major chords in different inversions. Inversions of a chord use the same notes, but place a different note on the bottom. For example, a C major chord is C, E, G. The first inversion of the C-major chord is E, G, C. The second inversion is G, C, E. [8]

Challenge yourself by making a major chord with every note on the scale, in every inversion.

Look for chords in sheet music. Once you are familiar with how to construct and play a chord, find a piece of music that has chords written. Look to see if you can identify major chords that you have practiced.

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Part 3 Quiz

Why might your chord sound wrong?

You are not ready to play with 2 hands.

Not exactly! It's definitely good practice to start playing with one hand and then transition over to 2 when you feel prepared, but that decision is up to you! Choose another answer!

You're not hitting the right notes.

Correct! When practicing your chords, it's important to listen for false notes. The ratio between the notes should always sound the same, and you'll be able to hear if it doesn't. Read on for another quiz question.

You are playing an inversion.

Nope! Inversions are a type of chord, only with a different note on the bottom! It's fun and good practice to challenge yourself on inversions until they all sound right! Guess again!

Sheet music chords sound different.

Try again! Reading sheet music may take some getting used to, but it should still sound like fluid, even chords. As they say, practice makes perfect, so grab your favorite music and hit the bench! Try again...

Community Q&A

An inversion is when you use all the same notes you normally do in a chord but you've changed which one you start with. For example: C major chord starts with the note C and has E and G above it (1, 3, 5). If you want to play the 1st inversion of this chord you will begin the chord on E, and play G and C (from the next octave) above it. In second inversion, you will start with G, and play C and E above it (from the octave above it).

In sheet music, chords are made up of two or more notes stacked on top of each other on the staff. You read them the same way you read any other note in sheet music -- by memorizing which line or space corresponds to each note. To play a chord, you just play all the stacked notes at the same time.

My personal favorite book for scales is the Brown Book of Scales. It's fairly popular, and available at a lot of music stores. It includes all the scales you need to learn up to grade 10, and is fairly easy to understand.

To make a minor chord from a major chord, you take the third down a half step. For example, to go from C major to C minor, instead of C, E, and G, the third (E) would go down one half step, making it Eb. C, Eb, and G would be C minor.

About This Article

Co-Authored By:

wikiHow Staff Editor

This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Together, they cited information from 8 references. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article meets our high standards.

To play major chords on a keyboard, start by identifying the note that the chord is built on, such as the C key for a C major chord, and putting your right thumb on it. Next, find the second note of the chord, which will be 4 half-steps from the first note, and place your middle finger on it. Then, rest your thumb on the top note of the chord, which is 7 half-steps from the first note. When you want to play the chord, keep your fingers tall and curved, and push down on the keys simultaneously with the tips of your fingers.

Reader Success Stories

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Pam Taylor

Oct 11, 2016

"I've heard about tonic, thirds and fifths but I was counting three up from the tonic and five up from the tonic. I could not get the chords right and it frustrated me. I did not know that I should have counted four half steps up to get the third and seven half steps to get the fifth. Thanks so much!"..." more

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Anonymous

Jan 20

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Connie

Jun 6, 2016

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Lewis Evans

Dec 17, 2017

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Noel Douglas

Dec 18, 2017

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D. Payne

Jun 23, 2016

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I. A.

Jul 29, 2017

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May 23, 2017

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Mar 22, 2016

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Troy Michalak

Jul 31, 2017

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Nov 27, 2017

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Deborah Kay

Jun 8, 2017

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Barbara Sinclair

Feb 19, 2017

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Jun 6, 2016

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Nov 21, 2017

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Jul 17, 2017

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